Washington Nationals vs. Mets Series Preview (5/23-5/25)

Matt Harvey (3-6, 5.77) vs. Stephen Strasburg (7-0, 2.80) – 7:05 p.m, MASN

One of the big questions in baseball lately has been what is wrong with Matt Harvey. Those questions only got louder after his last start against the Nats and Strasburg. In that game on Wednesday, he went 2.2 innings, gave up nine runs (six earned runs) on eight hits, struck out two, and walked two.

It’s been a rough May for the 27-year-old right-hander as he has a 7.20 ERA in four starts this month with teams hitting .344 against him (.325 on the season). He made the one mistake on the curveball that Daniel Murphy in the first inning on Monday for a two-run home run. Then, the Nats hit him up for seven runs in the third inning.

Against the Washington Nationals, Harvey is 3-4 with a 2.49 ERA in 11 career outings. In his last three starts against the Nats, he has given up 17 runs (13 earned runs) in 13 innings. Ben Revere is 4-for-13 against him with three RBI’s.

Due to the Nats offense having success against Harvey, Strasburg was able to pitch with a comfortable lead. He went six innings, gave up one run on six hits, struck out ten, and walked one on 113 pitches as his record improved to 7-0. Plus, the Nats have won each of his last 13 starts.

In that outing against the Mets, he only gave up singles after giving up three home runs in his two prior outings. Strasburg has struck out at least seven batters in eight consecutive outings.

Against the Mets, Strasburg is 5-3 with a 2.66 EA in ten career starts with two of those losses taking place last season. Neil Walker is 5-for-14 (.357) with one home run and two RBI’s in his career against Strasburg.

Prediction: While I expect Harvey to be much better in this start tomorrow than in his last one, it’s tough to pick against Strasburg the way he’s pitching right now. I think it will be more of a pitcher’s duel, but the Nats find a way to win late.

Next: Wednesday's Matchup